Thursday, May 23

Yapton Beer Festival (2013)

I've been attending beer festivals and pubs to try different beers for more years than I care to remember, so I thought it might be time to start writing them down before I forget them...



In this case a superb sunny Saturday lunchtime at our yearly jaunt to Yapton (see above) in sunny West Sussex resulted in the following....  before anyone says anything - the standard measure is a half pint!

Brewery
Beer
ABV
Notes (from brewery website)
What I can remember...
Brodies
Citra
3.10%
"Hop monster"
1st beer of the day..
Brodies
Kiwi
3.80%
Galaxy Hops from Australia, blended with NZ Nelson and Motueka provide an extreme passion fruit aroma. One of the hoppiest we've ever made.
2nd - Brodies confirmed as a brewer to watch in future.... both of these were superb...
Sawbridgeworth
Selhurst Park Flyer
3.80%
Very hoppy session beer 
3rd - first disappointment of the day - insipid.... threw half away
Sawbridgeworth
Is It Yourself
4.20%
Coloured bitter has a delightful floral aroma with an easy drinking citrusy bitterness
4th - second disappointment of the day - threw most of this one as well - I always give a brewery an even chance but in this case the brewery will be avoided in future.....
Hackney
American Pale
4.50%
a rich malt base giving it a warm amber colour and a delicious body of flavour. It is brewed with high quality American aroma hops that make it refreshing and hoppy.
5th - significantly better offering, but in the view of those who tried it with me, this may have been in comparison with the two previous offerings!
Dark Star
APA
4.70%
The yeast strain used for the brewing of this American style pale ale is specially imported from the USA, along with Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops. The low colour Maris Otter malt provides a perfect light colour and dryness to complement the crisp taste and full aroma of the hops. SERIOUSLY FULL OF HOPS
6th & also 10th - safe ground Dark Star are one of my premier league brewers - had this before and again it didn't disappoint - massive hop flavours, floral/citrus, with plenty of bitterness
Highland
Orkney IPA
4.80%
A modern IPA, not overly bitter but still nicely ‘hoppy’ and at 4.8%, just about a session IPA for a sensible night’s drinking. The hop profile is nothing short of stunning.
7th - average......
Redemption
Big Chief
5.50%
Big hoppy IPA style beer, packed full of Kiwi hops with hints of honey and nectar and plenty of tropical citrus and floral notes. SIBA regional ‘Overall Champion Beer’ 2012.
8th - very nice finisher
Reserve options in the event any of the above were not available
Brodies
Old Street Pale
5.00%
showboat American Pale Ale.
11th - had to try given the huge success of the first two brews - and this didn't disappoint either - lots of hops/bitterness and flavour - darker beer....
Five Towns
Niamh’s Nemesis
5.70%
a full bodied IPA with hints of grapefruit before a dry finish
9th - superb - should have been a first choice ale - one of our selections for beer of festival...

8 comments:

  1. Good much needed research Steve.

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  2. Dark Star was the only one I've heard of, best ones from Kent to look out for are Beers by the 'Old Dairy' and 'Wantsum' Breweries

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    1. Fraxinus, I was at Uni in Canterbury so I know you speak sooth... many happy evenings spent quaffing..... Fremlins, Bombardier (before the recipe was slaughtered by the nationals), Bishops Finger, happy days......

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  3. Well done, Steve. Of course what we'd all really like to see is what resulted from your painting session that evening...

    Giles

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    1. Giles - I suspect you wouldn't have seen much difference... :o))

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  4. I'm very jealous - all they have out here is lager of various kinds, although today someone told me that there is a microbrewery here in Bogota. My mission, should I choose to accept it...

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    1. Legatus - a worthy mission indeed... and sounds very interesting...

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17912032

      "'Bogota's biggest small brewery' has 13 different pubs scattered throughout the city.

      It produces 13 different types of beer, from Munich-style 'white beers' to British-inspired dark ones, such as porters and stouts".

      Let us know how you get on!

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